Today @ APSU - University News https://www.apsu.edu/news/tennessee-business-tax-seminar-set-july
enAPSU's GuitarFest rescheduled for April 13-14https://www.apsu.edu/news/apsus-guitarfest-rescheduled-april-13-14
<p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Having fallen afoul of last month’s wintery weather, Austin Peay State University’s annual GuitarFest will now take place on April 13 and 14 in the Kimbrough Building’s Gentry Auditorium.</p><p>On April 13, multi-competition winner and APSU alumnus Gary Stewart will perform a recital of nineteenth century music for solo guitar. The April 14 concert will feature the Hanser-McClellan Duo in a performance of music for two guitars. Both evening concerts are at 7.30 p.m. and are free and open to the public.</p><p>Stewart, a Kentucky native, has been a top-prize winner in such competitions as the Rantucci International Guitar Competition (New York), the Southeastern Guitar Congress (Alabama) and the Stroud Guitar Competition (Ohio). In addition to his undergraduate studies at APSU, Stewart received a graduate assistantship at the University of Akron and a doctoral teaching fellowship at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. He has performed and recorded with the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, the Cleveland Opera, and with the internationally acclaimed early music group Apollo’s Fire on their recent Classical Billboard top 10 recording, “Come to the River.” His program will include a selection of rarely heard period guitar arrangements of music by Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin.</p><p>Consisting of award-winning St. Louis guitarists John McClellan and Kirk Hauser, the Hauser-McLellan Duo is regarded by audiences and critics as one of the top guitar duos in the country. Their recordings include discs dedicated to South American music, recordings of music written and dedicated to the duo and an appearance on the CD “Slightly Above Below Average,” a tribute to their mentor and friend, Chet Atkins. On that CD, they perform alongside such guitar luminaries as Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Vince Gill and Tommy Emmanuel. Their wide-ranging program will include music by Handel, French guitarist Ida Presti, Brazillian guitarist Paulo Bellinati and recent works written for the duo by Roger Hudson, Kim Portney and APSU alumnus Jeffery R. Comas</p><p>For more information about APSU GuitarFest, please contact APSU professor of music Dr. Stanley Yates by email at <i><a href="mailto:YatesS@apsu.edu">YatesS@apsu.edu</a></i> or the APSU Department of Music by phone at (931) 221-7351</p>Tue, 31 Mar 2015 19:29:26 +0000boothcw99549 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU Community School Of The Arts Hosting One-Day Creative Writing Workshops Serieshttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-creative-school-arts-hosting-one-day-creative-writing-workshops-series
<p>Whether you’re a young student interested in exploring creative writing or an adult learner interested in fine-tuning your craft, there will be something for everyone this spring at Austin Peay State University’s Community School of the Arts.</p><p>During the months of April and May, APSU will be hosting a number of specialized one-day writing classes and workshops aimed at helping learners grow their skills in a number of disciplines, including short stories, poetry and fantasy fiction.</p><p>“We’re doing some 9 a.m.-noon, one-day writing classes on a number of really specific subjects, so if someone who takes the class is familiar with writing but really wants to hone their writing in one or two specific areas, they can take all of the classes, or just a subject that they’re really into,” Quincy Rhoads, adjunct professor of language and literature at APSU, said.</p><p>Rhoads, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from APSU, will lead all six workshops. In addition to teaching, Rhoads is a contributing editor for the online magazine Entropy, and his fiction and book reviews have appeared in magazines such as Zone 3, THE2NDHAND, Rain Taxi and Metazen.</p><p>One of the major goals of the workshop series, Rhoads said, is to compliment the type of learning students receive in a traditional academic setting.</p><p>“A lot of times, creative writing students study the classics of literary fiction, which makes sense because a student needs to make sense of the basics before branching off,” Rhoads said. “But I have a lot of students who want to learn the intricacies of science fiction or fantasy writing and the things that make those (disciplines) unique.”</p><p>Interested learners will also have an opportunity to explore the business side of writing, as Rhoads will lead classes exploring the processes of submitting writing and preparing a manuscript.</p><p>“A lot of students of all ages aren’t totally sure about the route they need to take to submit their work to publishers,” Rhoads said. “With independent publishing evolving how it has, the processes are totally different today. When is it worth paying a reading fee? How do you know when to send off a manuscript? Should you enter every single writing competition you can? Our goal is to supplement the learning process for students.”</p><p>The following one-day classes are held Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon. Students must be 18 or older to enroll in classes. All classes are $25 to enroll, unless otherwise noted.</p><ul><li>Chapbooks, April 11. (Cost: $75)</li><li>The Key to Short Stories, April 18</li><li>Writing Fantasy Fiction, April 25</li><li>Submitting Your Writing, May 16</li><li>Advanced Poetry Workshop, May 23</li><li>Preparing Your Manuscript, May 30</li></ul><p>To register for any or all of the workshops, visit the CSA’s website at <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/csa/writing">http://www.apsu.edu/csa/writing</a>.</p><p>For more information, contact the APSU Community School of the Arts at 931-221-7508 or email at <a href="mailto:csa@apsu.edu">csa@apsu.edu</a>.</p>Arts and LettersFri, 27 Mar 2015 18:58:10 +0000harriscj99363 at https://www.apsu.eduCampbell new coordinator at APSU Springfield campushttps://www.apsu.edu/news/campbell-new-coordinator-apsu-springfield-campus
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/20150326-Rusty-Campbell-3704.jpg" width="400" height="600" alt="20150326-Rusty-Campbell-3704.jpg" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Rusty Campbell, coordinator for Austin Peay State University’s Highland Crest campus, wants people to know they can earn a bachelor’s degree without ever leaving Robertson County.</p><p> The four-year-old Highland Crest classroom facility in Springfield, which houses both APSU and Volunteer State Community College, now offers five full undergraduate programs, taught by APSU faculty, in criminal justice, computer science, K-6 grade teacher licensure, social work and professional studies.</p><p> “I want them to be aware that Austin Peay is here at Highland Crest,” he said. “It’s not just a few classes. You can finish those degrees here, and we’re committed to making sure that you can get that degree.”</p><p> Students taking classes through Volunteer State are also eligible for the APSU Promise Scholarship once they earn their associate degree, Campbell said. An unlimited number of scholarships are available for VSCC graduates who have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.</p><p> Campbell is at the Highland Crest campus from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and he can help steer students in the right direction in terms of admission and academic counseling. He earned his Bachelor of Art degree in history from APSU in 1995, and his Master of Art in curriculum instruction from APSU in 2000. He is familiar with the Robertson County and Cheatham County areas, having worked as a teacher and administrator at the Pleasant View Christian School. He also taught at Welch College in Nashville, where he started the school’s online learning program and served as director of Enrollment Management.</p><p> For more on APSU classes at Highland Crest, visit the website <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/springfield" title="www.apsu.edu/springfield">www.apsu.edu/springfield</a>.</p>Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:58:02 +0000boothcw99358 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU students do service work in North Carolina https://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-students-do-service-work-north-carolina
<p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In March, 11 Austin Peay State University students spent their spring break volunteering with the Autism Society of North Carolina’s Camp Royall, collectively completing 275 hours of community service.</p><p> From March 7 - 14, students traveled to Moncure, North Carolina, to spend a week doing camp maintenance in preparation for summer camp, and volunteering for afternoon sessions of camp. The students took a side trip to Wilmington, to visit the ocean before committing to five days of work for Camp Royall.</p><p> The group stayed in a camp cabin during their trip to get the real camp experience. Volunteer work included painting and landscaping, as well as working directly with campers through an after school program and field day trips for school-aged children with autism.</p><p> The Alternative Break program is organized by the Center for Service Learning &amp; Community Engagement at APSU. Through a written application, students are selected to participate in a variety of service projects throughout the country that are organized by student leaders and faculty/staff advisors. A total of eight trips are scheduled throughout the 2014-2015 academic year, during the fall, winter, spring and summer.</p><p> For more information on how to get involved, students should visit <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/volunteer">www.apsu.edu/volunteer</a>. </p>Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:39:10 +0000boothcw99354 at https://www.apsu.eduMontgomery County Public Health Director Joey Smith to speak at APSUhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/montgomery-county-public-health-director-joey-smith-speak-apsu
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/JoeySmith.jpg" width="449" height="600" alt="JoeySmith.jpg" /></p><p></p><p>Montgomery County Public Health Director Joey Smith (’99) was recently honored as one of the leaders in his field in the United States, and Austin Peay State University is proud to welcome Smith to campus as he discusses his successes and what he sees in the future of public health.</p><p>Smith’s discussion will take place from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on April 8 in University Center room 305, located on the campus of the University.</p><p>On January 6, 2015, Smith was one of the 12 Public Health Officials in the nation named by the Kresge Foundation to the Emerging Leaders in Public Health. Selected in a nationwide competitive process, each leadership team will receive up to $125,000 and technical assistance from field experts to implement a 16-month project.</p><p>Smith was chosen alongside representatives from major cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans and San Antonio.</p><p>During his discussion, Smith will offer his thoughts on the health of Montgomery County, how health is measured and how the Emerging Leaders in Public Health project will enable his team to explore ways to accelerate the improvement of population health.</p><p> “Our project gives us the ability to further explore the proportional application of local public health efforts and resources towards determining factors,” Smith said.</p><p>Smith has experience using data to steer public health efforts in creative ways. Over the last three years, Smith and Dr. Patti Orr from the APSU School of Nursing have co-written a grant that creates access for breast health education and screening mammograms at zero cost for uninsured women in Montgomery County.</p><p>“It’s an honor to just be nominated. But a lot of the honor needs to be shared. Each day, I get to work with smart and talented people. I live in a great community that has skilled leaders and excellent schools.”</p><p>Space will be limited to the first 50 attendees. For more information, contact Marian Perron at 931-221-6295 or <a href="mailto:perronm@apsu.edu">perronm@apsu.edu</a>.</p>Behavioral and Health SciencesFri, 27 Mar 2015 15:13:14 +0000harriscj99352 at https://www.apsu.edu47th Annual Student Exhibition set for March 30-April 17https://www.apsu.edu/news/47th-annual-student-exhibition-set-march-30-april-17
<p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s Department of Art is proud to host its annual juried student exhibition in the Trahern Gallery from March 30 through April 17, 2015. As the tradition of showcasing the artistic talents of the Austin Peay students enters its 47<sup>th</sup> year, this exhibition rounds out what has been an exciting 2014-2015 gallery season.</p><p>This year’s juror, Christopher Taylor, from the University of Alabama Huntsville, had his work cut out for him as there were 221 entries in this year’s exhibition.</p><p>“The body of work selected for this year’s show attempts to represent this experience and uniquely represents the student-artists at Austin Peay State University who have pushed their concepts throughout all levels,” Taylor said. He selected 46 pieces from 34 different students. “It was a real pleasure to experience this quality student artwork...work that represents a positive trajectory toward an exciting future for these students and the institution.” </p><p>An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. Exhibition awards will be announced and scholarship recipients will be recognized beginning at 5:30 p.m.</p><p>Among the exhibition awards from the University and the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, the Department of Art would also like to thank The Framemaker, Plaza Art Supplies, The Customs House Museum, The Frist Center for the Visual Arts and Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art for additional cash awards and memberships.</p><p>For more information about the exhibit, contact the APSU Department of Art at (931) 221-7333. </p>Arts and LettersArtThu, 26 Mar 2015 20:38:44 +0000boothcw99247 at https://www.apsu.eduHost of ABC's "What Would You Do" to speak at APSU on April 1https://www.apsu.edu/host-John-Qui%C3%B1ones-april-1
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/unity_celebration_scroll.jpg" height="278" width="410" alt="unity_celebration_scroll.jpg" /></p><p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Jackie Quaid, a notorious jewelry thief, showed up in a Springfield, Missouri, pawn shop last summer, looking to unload a few rings and necklaces. Minutes before she arrived, a law enforcement officer had stopped by the store to show customers her picture on a wanted poster. When the blond crook stepped into the shop that afternoon, several people did a double take.</p><p> Emmy Award-winning journalist John Quiñones was fascinated by what the customers did next. One man immediately called the law enforcement officer while another used his truck to block Quaid’s car from driving away.</p><p> For the last several years, Quiñones’ “Primetime” series, “What Would You Do,” has used hidden cameras to examine the split-second ethical decisions people make. At 7 p.m. on <strong>April 1</strong>, he will visit Austin Peay State University’s Clement Auditorium to share his insights into human nature with his presentation, “What Would You Do? Changing Ethics in America.” The event, which is part of APSU’s 2015 Unity Celebration, is free and open to the public, and a book signing will follow.</p><p> In the July episode that featured an actress playing the thief named Quaid, Quiñones wondered if gender was a factor in how the customers reacted. He decided to set up a similar scenario, but with a man playing the part of the thief this time. The individuals in the pawnshop acted the same way they had with the female suspect and called the police.</p><p> As the ABC network’s first Latino correspondent, Quiñones has spent his nearly 30-year career covering international stories such as the Chilean Mining Disaster and the U.S. invasion of Panama. He is the recipient of seven Emmy Awards, a World Hunger Media Award and the International Reporting and Robert F. Kennedy Prize.</p><p> For more information on his talk, contact the APSU Office of Student Life and Engagement at 931-221-7431 or <a href="mailto:sllsw@apsu.edu">sllsw@apsu.edu</a>.</p>Thu, 26 Mar 2015 20:06:06 +0000bradleyh99237 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU Department of Art and Center of Excellence For The Creative Arts award inaugural Tennessee Artist Fellowshiphttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-department-art-and-center-excellence-creative-arts-award-inaugural-tennessee-artist-fellow
<p>The Austin Peay State University Department of Art, in association with the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is pleased to announce that Memphis-based artist Maysey Craddock is the recipient of the inaugural Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts Tennessee Artist Fellowship.</p><p>Craddock was selected from a list of outstanding artists from across the state compiled by APSU faculty for the honor, and will be awarded $5,000 to aid in the creation of new artwork. In addition, Craddock is planning on coming to campus in the fall where she will speak and donate an original piece to the University’s permanent collection.</p><p>“Since APSU is the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts for the entire state of Tennessee, we wanted to find a way to support artists state-wide,” Barry Jones, chair of the APSU Department of Art and Design, said. “There is an incredible amount of amazing artists here, but unfortunately there isn’t much financial support for them. We hope that this fellowship helps a Tennessee artist maintain their practice and to know that we support what they are doing.”</p><p>Craddock received her MFA from the Maine College of Art and a BA from Tulane University. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, including shows in New York, Stuttgart, Berlin, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas and New Orleans. David Lusk Gallery in Memphis, Sears Peyton Fine Arts in New York and Cris Worley Fine Arts in Dallas currently represents her.</p>tbrArtCenter of Excellence for Creative Arts Thu, 26 Mar 2015 19:04:19 +0000harriscj99234 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU students give back to community with "Big Event"https://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-students-give-back-community-big-event
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/20150321-The-Big-Thanks-3083_copy.jpg" alt="20150321-The-Big-Thanks-3083_copy.jpg" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A bright red wave swept across Clarksville last Saturday, March 21, wiping away debris and litter, and leaving a grateful community in its wake. That wave consisted of about 500 Austin Peay State University students participating in The Big Event—a day of service that allows students to express their gratitude to the community that supports their University</p><p> “I think our students really want to give back, and those that participated had really awesome experiences,” Zac Gillman, APSU Student Government Association president, said.</p><p> APSU students spent the day planting flowers at local schools, picking up litter and debris, volunteering in animal shelters, packing food boxes for the homeless and helping out dozens of other local agencies across Clarksville.</p><p> “We were the first group to go into Dunbar Cave in six years,” Gillman said. “We dug out mud, and now the cave is going to be open to the public in May. That’s 100 percent because of our group.”</p><p> The Big Event is a national service event that started at Texas A&amp;M in 1982 as a way of saying thanks to the residents of Bryan-College Station, Texas. More than 75 Big Events now occur at colleges and universities around the world. Gillman brought the event to APSU this year, and he hopes it will become an annual event for the campus community.</p><p> “We have G.H.O.S.T. and Mudbowl in the fall, but we don’t do anything in the spring as far as SGA is concerned, except elections,” Gillman said. “We don’t really have a big signature, traditional event, so that was my main priority as SGA president.”</p><p> A planning committee was organized earlier this year, and members hoped students would be interested in spending a day doing service work. Three days after the project was announced, more than 300 people had signed up. </p><p> “It turned out really good,” Gillman said. “Our goal was 500 students this year and we met that. It was crazy, a really good atmosphere with awesome energy. Our goal for next year will be 750 students.”</p><p> A video of The Big Event can be viewed online at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaq0xjM4ydc&amp;feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaq0xjM4ydc&amp;feature=youtu.be</a>.</p><p> A photo gallery, featuring images from the different sites, is also available online at <a href="http://austinpeay.photoshelter.com/gallery/2015-The-Big-Event/G0000xkvagoO5Jro/C0000JJsy8JIDB6g">http://austinpeay.photoshelter.com/gallery/2015-The-Big-Event/G0000xkvagoO5Jro/C0000JJsy8JIDB6g</a>.</p><p align="center">-30-</p><p> </p>tbrThu, 26 Mar 2015 16:44:21 +0000boothcw99225 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU's KA fraternity wins major awardshttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsus-ka-fraternity-wins-major-awards
<p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Zeta Tau chapter of Kappa Alpha Order (KA) at Austin Peay State University received the 2014 George C. Marshall Award for Chapter Excellence at the fraternity’s annual Province Council held at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. Zeta Tau also received the Samuel Z. Ammen Award for Chapter Excellence. Zeta Tau was established in 2011, making it the youngest chapter to receive this award.</p><p>Province Council is a regional conference for undergraduate members of Kappa Alpha Order that focuses on educating chapter leaders on scholarship, risk management, ritual and other aspects of chapter operations though large general sessions, small breakout sessions and alumni volunteer facilitated discussion. The Province Council in Starkville included more than 150 chapter officers from Mississippi, Louisiana, western Tennessee and eastern Arkansas.</p><p>Chapters are recognized for excellence in finances, recruitment and chapter growth, communications, Project Outreach, Operation Crimson Gift and overall chapter excellence. Every year the top 10 percent of KA Chapters are recognized with the Samuel Zenas Award for chapter excellence. This award takes all areas of chapter operations into consideration and recognizes those chapters achieving a high level of excellence. The highest honor that can be bestowed upon a chapter is the George C. Marshall Award for</p><p>Chapter Excellence. This award is presented annually to the top one to three chapters in the Order in recognition for their superior operations and performance.</p><p>Kappa Alpha Order and its first chapter were founded at what is now Washington &amp; Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. It has grown to 129 chapters in 27 states. Currently, there are near 7,500 undergraduate members, over 130,000 living initiated members, and well over 160,000 initiates in its history. More information about Kappa Alpha Order is available online, at <a href="http:" title="www.KappaAlphaOrder.org. ">www.KappaAlphaOrder.org. </a></p>Wed, 25 Mar 2015 20:58:12 +0000boothcw99165 at https://www.apsu.eduCyrus Chestnut Trio headlines 54th Mid-South Jazz Festival at APSUhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/cyrus-chestnut-trio-headlines-54th-mid-south-jazz-festival-apsu
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/chesnut.jpg" width="542" height="355" alt="chesnut.jpg" /></p><p>The Cyrus Chestnut Trio will headline this year’s 54<sup>th</sup> Annual Mid-South Jazz Festival in collaboration with the Clarksville Community Concert Association at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28. The trio plays jazz festivals around the world with Chestnut believing, “If I can send one person home after a performance feeling better than when they arrived, then I’ve done my job.” </p><p>Ticket information can be found at <a href="http://www.clarksvillemusic.org/">www.clarksvillemusic.org</a> or 1-877-811-0200. </p><p>Chestnut, a jazz pianist, composer and producer, explains that he likes “to construct melodies that tell stories, based on what I’ve seen, what I feel and what I hear. If I can connect to what I’m playing then I’ll be able to share it.” </p><p>Known for his improvisational skills, he has been described as a “highly intelligent improviser with one of the surest senses of swing in jazz.”</p><p>Chestnut’s earliest musical influences come from gospel music and Thelonius Monk’s greatest hits. His music is a blend of jazz, gospel, classical and R&amp;B.</p><p>Throughout his career, Chestnut has worked and toured with an array of artists, including saxophonists James Carter and Joe Lovano; trumpeter Freddie Hubbard; jazzman Chick Corea; the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops; and vocalists Vanessa Williams, Anita Baker, Bette Midler, Isaac Hayes and Brian McKnight, among others. The <i>New York Daily News </i>once named Chestnut as the “rightful heir to Bud Powell, Art Tatum and Errol Garner.”</p><p>Chestnut also holds the piano chair in many big bands, including the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra directed by Wynton Marsalis and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.</p><p>The 54<sup>th</sup> Mid-South Jazz Festival begins at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 26, with the APSU Jazz Combo, directed by David Steinquest, and the APSU Jazz Collegians, directed by Robert Waugh. The Cumberland Jazz Project, directed by Mike Ritter, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. </p><p>All events are held in the George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall in the Music/Mass Communication Building on the campus of Austin Peay State University at Eighth and Marion streets in Clarksville.</p>Arts and LettersMusicWed, 25 Mar 2015 14:53:02 +0000boothcw99133 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU professor Andrea Spofford to release first collection of poetry, titled "The Pine Effect"https://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-professor-andrea-spofford-release-her-first-collection-poetry-titled-pine-effect
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/spofford_andrea.jpg" width="250" height="400" alt="spofford_andrea.jpg" /></p><p>Austin Peay State University assistant professor of creative writing and poetry Andrea Spofford is nearing the release of her first collection of poetry, titled “The Pine Effect.”</p><p>Spofford’s collection of poetry examines the intersection of person and place. Addressing themes of history, transformation and youth, this collection explores the idea of poet as alchemist and scientist, explorer and observer. The book represents years of experiences and the landscapes span from the coasts of California to the Gulf Coast of Texas and many places in-between.</p><p>“The phrase ‘the pine effect’ was actually inspired by a trip I took to the Southwest,” Spofford said. “On this particular trip, I noticed many of the trees in the national and state parks I explored had almost self-combusted; they stood as burned stalks in the middle of an otherwise green landscape. I kept returning to this image—the combusted pine—while I was assembling this collection.</p><p>“The title poem fits this manuscript because, in many ways, it is the self-combusted pine: charred but still standing upright. I think these combusted trees scattered throughout the book become something else and I hope the landscape replaces, or accounts for, or in some way becomes more important than the actual situation that inspired each piece,” Spofford continued.</p><p>Spofford’s poems and essays appear in The Portland Review, Sugar House Review, Vela Magazine, Revolver, Kudzu Review, Composite: Arts Magazine, Puerto del Sol, Redactions and Red Paint Hill Quarterly. Her chapbook “Everything Combustible” is available from Dancing Girl Press and her chapbook “Qikiqtagruk: Almost an Island” is available from Red Bird Chapbooks.</p><p>The Tennessee-based Spofford earned her Ph.D. from The University of Southern Mississippi. In addition to teaching, she also serves as a poetry editor for Zone 3 Press, the literary press of Austin Peay State University.</p><p>“The Pine Effect” will be released April 1. For ordering information, visit Red Paint Hill Publishing at <a href="http://www.redpainthill.com" title="www.redpainthill.com">www.redpainthill.com</a>.</p>Arts and LettersTue, 24 Mar 2015 21:05:17 +0000harriscj99078 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU employees share recent professional developments, activities https://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-employees-share-recent-professional-developments-activities-33
<p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Faculty and staff members at Austin Peay State University recently announced achievements as part of their professional and scholarly activities.</p><p><b>Dr. Sergei Markov</b>, professor of biology, recently had a paper, “Using immobilized cyanobacteria and culture medium contaminated with ammonium for H<sub>2</sub> production in a hollow-fiber photobioreactor,” published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. Dr. Elvira Eivazora, APSU adjunct professor of biology, is a co-author of the paper. </p>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 20:54:12 +0000boothcw99076 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU music professor Williams featured on new opera CDhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-music-professor-williams-featured-new-opera-cd
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/williams.jpg" width="400" height="600" alt="williams.jpg" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The king did not care for his portrait; it referenced a failure from his youth that he wished to forget.</p><p> “A major defeat—and how could that have been considered a part of my life worth remembering,” he shouts. When Jeffrey Williams, Austin Peay State University assistant professor of music, performed this role in the new short opera, “The King’s Portrait,” his baritone voice perfectly captured the intensity of the king’s anger.</p><p> “Performing it was great,” Williams said. “I think he really understands the baritone voice. It was almost like he had written it for me and my strengths as a singer.”</p><p> Chances are, renowned composer Thomas Sleeper, director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, did have the APSU professor in mind when he wrote the eight short operas that form his new CD, “Einstein’s Inconsistency: A Series of Operas,” because the two men had worked together multiple times while Williams was a doctoral student at that university. In July, Sleeper contacted Williams and asked if he would return to Florida for two days to record the new album.</p><p> “He already knew my voice, so he sent me the score and asked me to come down in September.” Williams said. “Being in seven of the eight works was a lot of fun. Sometimes, I was even two characters within the same work. We would record the first character and then go right back and record the second. It was pretty wild hearing my own voice in the track and then harmonizing with myself! Thom conducted all of it, but we didn’t rehearse; we went right into the recording process. I loved seeing his reactions to the way I colored certain moments as we were recording. It encouraged me to be inventive and take even more risks than I might have otherwise.”</p><p> Albany Records released the album on March 1, and its inventiveness is being credited with infusing new energy into the old art form.</p><p> “‘Einstein’s Inconsistency’ takes the listener into a sort of sonic funhouse, where the deepest and most primal of human anxieties is displayed in dazzling variety, and one cannot experience this work and remain unaltered by it,” composer Andy Skaggs said.</p><p> The album is available for purchase at Amazon.com, iTunes, and at Albany Records, <a href="http://www.albanyrecords.com/" title="http://www.albanyrecords.com/">http://www.albanyrecords.com/</a>.</p>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 20:45:16 +0000boothcw99074 at https://www.apsu.eduNoted transgender scholar and poet to speak at APSU's Asanbe Diversity Symposiumhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/noted-transgender-scholar-and-poet-speak-apsus-asanbe-diversity-symposium
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/Joy_Headshot0010.JPG" width="598" height="492" alt="Joy_Headshot0010.JPG" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In 2006, Jay Ladin, a married father with three children, left Yeshiva University, where he worked as the Gottesman professor of English. Fifteen months later, Ladin returned as Joy, the first openly transgender employee at an Orthodox Jewish institution.</p><p> Ladin had struggled with her male identity throughout her life—attempting suicide twice by the time she was 10—but as a young boy, she found comfort in her Jewish faith. In a 2013 interview with the Peabody Award-winning podcast “On Being,” she said she experienced a powerful connection with the Torah’s one genderless character—God. </p><p> “Despite the male pronouns, God doesn’t have a body,” she said. “And when I was a kid, that was a very powerful, not really articulated, sense of connection I had, because I had male pronouns but I didn’t feel I had a body.”</p><p> At 1 p.m. on April 16, Ladin will delve deeper into this subject with her lecture “Second Genesis: the Transformation of Gender,” during the Austin Peay State University Asanbe Symposium. The lecture will take place in room 303 of the Morgan University Center, and a panel discussion, titled “Trans-identities in Social and Institutional Spaces,” will follow at 2:30 p.m.</p><p> During her talk, Ladin will ask attendees to “consider how the unprecedented recognition of diversity of gender identity and expression we are seeing in recent years relates to and challenges traditional understandings of gender.”</p><p> The symposium, sponsored and organized by the APSU Department of Languages and Literature, was established 20 years ago in memory of Dr. Joseph Asanbe, who was the first professor of African and African-American literature at APSU. The event is co-sponsored by the APSU Office of Academic Affairs, the APSU Diversity Committee, the APSU African-American Studies Program, the APSU International Studies Program, the APSU Women’s and Gender Studies Program, the APSU Honors Program and the APSU Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center.</p><p> Ladin is a nationally known author and scholar, having published numerous poems and essays, and five books of poetry: “Coming to Life” (named “one of the five most important Jewish poetry books of 2010” by The Forward), “Psalms,” “Transmigration” (2009 Lambda Literary Award finalist), “The Book of Anna” and “Alternatives to History.” She is also the author of “Who Will Be: A Woman Caught in the Act of Becoming,” a forthcoming collection of autobiographical essays on gender transition, and a critical study, “Soldering the Abyss: Emily Dickinson and Modern American Poetry.”</p><p> The Asanbe Diversity Symposium is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the APSU Department of Languages and Literature at 221-7891.</p>African American StudiesArts and LetterstbrHonors ProgramInternational StudiesLanguages and LiteratureTue, 24 Mar 2015 19:28:58 +0000boothcw99061 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU Center of Excellence For The Creative Arts presents local author reading eventhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-center-excellence-creative-arts-presents-local-author-reading-event
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/poetry_reading-april_1st_to_print.png" width="488" height="700" alt="poetry_reading-april_1st_to_print.png" /></p><p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University welcomes two local authors to campus, as Andrea Spofford and Amy Wright will read excerpts of their works on Wednesday, April 1 at 4 p.m. at the Morgan University Center, room 303. The event is free and open to the public.</p><p>Spofford is the author of two chapbooks, titled “Everything Combustible” and “Qikiqtagruk: Almost an Island.” Her first full-length book, “The Pine Effect,” is forthcoming from Red Paint Hill Publishing. A native Californian transplanted to the South, Spofford is poetry editor for Zone 3 Press, APSU’s literary press, and an assistant professor of English at APSU.</p><p>Wright, an associate professor of English at APSU, is the nonfiction editor of Zone 3 Press, and the author of five chapbooks. Her work can also be found in Brevity, DIAGRAM, Southern Poetry Anthology (Volumes III and VI), Quarterly West, Tupelo Quarterly and is forthcoming in CALYX and Kenyon Review.</p><p>For more information, contact the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at 931-221-7876. Spofford can be reached at <a href="http://www.andreaspofford.com" title="www.andreaspofford.com">www.andreaspofford.com</a>, while more information on Wright can be found at <a href="http://www.awrightawright.com" title="www.awrightawright.com">www.awrightawright.com</a>.</p>Center of Excellence for Creative Arts Tue, 24 Mar 2015 19:17:08 +0000harriscj99059 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU installs Dr. Alisa White as 10th presidenthttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-installs-dr-alisa-white-10th-president
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/President_White_Installation_small.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="President_White_Installation_small.jpg" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The weather, which has been so abrasive these last few months, turned pleasant on Monday morning as people made their way into the Austin Peay State University Music/Mass Communication Building. Instead of lingering under that clear, warm sky, hundreds of well-wishers eagerly filed into the windowless Mabry Concert Hall to watch Dr. Alisa White officially become the University’s tenth president.</p><p> “Dr. White, we’re thrilled you’re here,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said during the ceremony. “We can’t think of a more important time to be involved in higher education or a more important university.”</p><p> For more than 400 years, American colleges have honored the formal transfer of leadership with presidential installation ceremonies, and Monday’s event continued this tradition with a celebratory atmosphere. The University’s Department of Music set this tone with several moving musical performances, and members of the APSU and Clarksville-Montgomery County communities extended the festive mood by speaking optimistically of White’s coming tenure.</p><p> “I can graduate in May knowing that this University and my fellow students are in great hands, and I know this University is on the verge of something great,” Zac Gillman, APSU Student Government Association president, said.</p><p> Col. David L. Dellinger, garrison commander at Fort Campbell, attended the ceremony to reassure the public that White is still committed to supporting the area’s military community.</p><p> “Dr. White has continued to be an incredible advocate in support of our military population and our programs,” he said. “She’s not once been afraid to climb in a foxhole with us.”</p><p> Several dignitaries from colleges and universities from across the country also attended the event, including Dr. Jesse Rogers, president of Midwestern State University in Texas. White had served under Rogers as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at that institution. He was one of the individuals who nominated her for the APSU position, and he offered White a challenge during her installation ceremony.</p><p> “Dr. White, the charge that I deliver from the education community is to dedicate yourself to the ideals of free inquiry, open and responsible debate, diversity and academic excellence; to encourage the advancement of the cornerstones of university education—the arts, the sciences, the humanities and the social sciences—and to cultivate peaceful resolution of conflicts and respect for differences,” he said.</p><p> John Morgan, TBR chancellor, performed the investiture, but before asking White to repeat after him, he explained that university presidents play a critical role in Tennessee’s higher education community.</p><p> “The board grants a high degree of autonomy to the TBR institutions and expects strong leadership and expects a high level of accountability from our presidents,” he said. “So selecting a new president is a matter of importance.”</p><p><b> </b>White was selected as Austin Peay’s tenth president after an extensive nationwide search that resulted in four finalists visiting campus. She arrived at APSU on June 30 to begin her tenure as president, and her husband Elliot Herzlich soon joined her from their previous home in Texas.</p><p> “I am honored that Chancellor Morgan and the Tennessee Board of Regents have given me the opportunity to serve you,” White said during her Presidential Address on Monday. “Elliot and I are honored to have the privilege of living among you. I have been given an astonishing gift, and my pledge to you is to do whatever is in my power to advance this institution, to work alongside you to build upon the wonderful work that you have done with others and to realize our collective vision.”</p><p> Monday’s ceremony ended with a reception in the lobby of the MMC Building, and a surprise performance by the APSU Governors’ Own Marching Band.</p><p align="center">-30-</p><p>Photo cutline: Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam applauds as Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor John Morgan officially installs Dr. Alisa White as APSU’s 10<sup>th</sup> president. (Photo by Beth Liggett/APSU).</p>tbrTue, 24 Mar 2015 14:53:49 +0000boothcw99042 at https://www.apsu.edu5th Annual Young Women's Leadership Symposium coming to APSU April 10https://www.apsu.edu/news/5th-annual-young-womens-leadership-symposium-coming-apsu-april-10
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/womensleadership_scroll.jpg" width="410" height="278" alt="womensleadership_scroll.jpg" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – During a presidential election year, names like Hillary and Sarah often stand out because all the other candidates stumping for votes are usually men. The question of why women often shy away from politics has troubled Dr. Marsha Lyle-Gonga, chair of the Austin Peay State University Department of Political Science, since she was a doctoral student, and in 2010 she decided to host an event to encourage a new generation of women to get involved in the political process.</p><p> That once small event has grown over the years, and on April 10, Lyle-Gonga’s department and the APSU Office of Student Life and Engagement will host the Fifth Annual Young Women’s Leadership Symposium in the campus’ Morgan University Center Ballroom. The free, daylong event is aimed at inspiring local young women, between the ages of 16-24, to become more active members of their community.</p><p> “My whole thing was the fact that there were so few women in leadership positions at the congressional level in government, and also at the state and local level,” Lyle-Gonga said. “I wanted to know how we could change that.”</p><p> For her dissertation, Lyle-Gonga interviewed 20 female elected officials in both Tennessee and Kentucky and discovered that the majority of them were encouraged by their peers to participate in politics. As a result of her research, she founded the symposium in 2010 as a way of empowering a new generation.</p><p> “We hook them up with local leaders, as well as non-profit leaders, and build their confidence so they know they can lead and make a difference in their community,” she said. “That’s what the day is supposed to be about.”</p><p> The symposium has grown over the years, with individuals such as Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, former Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers and former State Sen. Rosalind Kurita having visited with the participants. This year, State Rep. Brenda Gilmore will serve as the keynote speaker. The symposium, which runs from 8:30-3:30 p.m., also will feature a presentation by Mallory Fundora, the 15-year-old founder of the non-profit ministry Project Yesu, and several workshops on different leadership styles. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.</p><p> For more information, or to register for the symposium, visit <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/polysci/young-womens-leadership-symposium-registration-form">http://www.apsu.edu/polysci/young-womens-leadership-symposium-registration-form</a>, or call 931-221-7515.</p>tbrPolitical ScienceTue, 24 Mar 2015 14:23:28 +0000boothcw99040 at https://www.apsu.eduGeneral praises APSU ROTC programhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/general-praises-apsu-rotc-program
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/ROTC_cadets.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="ROTC_cadets.jpg" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Last month, Brigadier Gen. Peggy Combs stopped by Austin Peay State University to evaluate the school’s renowned ROTC program. APSU cadets have excelled on a national scale in recent years, giving the University a reputation for having one of the top programs in the country, and Combs wanted to check things out for herself.</p><p> She set out to visit only six schools within the 7<sup>th</sup> Brigade, which includes 38 ROTC programs in Michigan, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Austin Peay was one of those six schools.</p><p> Once she arrived, Combs understood why APSU cadets regularly earn major leadership awards. She rated the program with an excellent performance and then awarded coins to cadets Shawn Frazzini and Kristin Coughenour for their leadership skills.</p><p> During her visit, the general also met with the program’s commander, Lt. Col. John Montgomery, and APSU President Alisa White to discuss the program’s success.</p><p> For more information on the APSU ROTC program, visit the program’s website at <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/rotc" title="www.apsu.edu/rotc">www.apsu.edu/rotc</a>.</p><p align="center">-30-</p><p>Photo cutline: APSU ROTC cadet Jennifer Card participates in a Team Building Lab on campus. (Photo by Adison Hardyway/APSU).</p>tbrFri, 20 Mar 2015 20:22:10 +0000boothcw98894 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU plays host to Phi Alpha Theta Regional History Conferencehttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-plays-host-phi-alpha-theta-regional-history-conference
<p style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/pat_regional.png" width="600" height="400" alt="pat_regional.png" /></p><p style="text-align:left;">The Dean of Austin Peay State University’s College of Arts and Letters, Dr. Dixie Webb, knows first-hand the possibilities for a student pursuing a degree in history.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Webb shared those thoughts with the over 130 attendees of the annual Phi Alpha Theta (PAT) Regional History Conference, held Feb. 28 on the campus of APSU. Founded in 1921, PAT exists to promote the study of history and is one of the largest honor societies in existence.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Students from universities across the region gathered at APSU, with Webb speaking on the value of a degree in history. Regardless of your ultimate career path, Webb said, a background in history can provide students with the tools necessary to succeed.</p><p style="text-align:left;">“In my welcome, I shared the range of opportunities study in history provides our graduates,” Webb said. “The critical thinking, solving complex problems that don’t have obvious solutions and oral and written communications skills that history majors are honing every semester are attributes employers want.</p><p style="text-align:left;">“I never imagined serving as a dean when I earned my degree in art history, but the same skills that made me successful in completing my degree have been a benefit to me as an administrator,” Webb added.</p><p style="text-align:left;">A number of APSU students presented their research during the event, addressing an array of topics from American colonial history to World War I and even a critique on the fathers of modern philosophy.</p><p style="text-align:left;">PAT student president Alexandria Poppendorf, currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Military History degree at APSU, presented her research, titled “Jacob Riis and the Movement against Childhood Poverty in Five Points New York.”</p><p style="text-align:left;">Poppendorf said the conference was an opportunity for her organization to display the fruits of their labor.</p><p style="text-align:left;">“The event was a real success and everything went exactly as we had hoped,” Poppendorf said. “For our members who presented papers at the conference, it is a wonderful academic experience for anyone who is interested in going into the history field.</p><p style="text-align:left;">“By working closely with the history department, and our partner organization, the APSU History Club, PAT has continually promoted events where our members have a chance to improve themselves as historians while also making new friends,” Poppendorf added. </p><p style="text-align:left;">Non-student attendees included Dee Boaz, former editor of The Leaf-Chronicle. Boaz retired in 1994 as editor, after leading the organization to 135 state and national press awards.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Following her husband Sam’s death in 2013, Boaz created The Judge Sam E. Boaz History Endowment, a scholarship awarded to a junior or senior APSU history student pursuing a concentration in U.S. History – her late husband’s college major, and a subject he briefly taught at APSU.</p><p style="text-align:left;">“It was exciting to attend the conference and witness the quality and depth of the presentations, as well as the array of topics being explored,” Boaz said. “I was impressed with the maturity and seriousness of the presenters.</p><p style="text-align:left;">“I have no doubt establishing the scholarship was wise, and being at the conference just affirmed my decision,” Boaz said.</p><p style="text-align:left;">A total of 10 APSU students presented their research topics during the conference.</p><ul><li>Christopher Groves, “The Musical Heritage of Japan during the Meiji Restoration and a Brief Discussion of Consequence on State Nationalism”</li><li>Devon Mindt, “1768 Colonist Dispute over Boundary Lines”</li><li>Gwendolyn Hay, “From Targeted to Protected: A History of Whales in Twentieth-Century America”</li><li>Larissa Dougherty, “Venereal Disease in World War I: Medical and Social Implications Thereof”</li><li>Allison Parker, “Perspectives on Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead”</li><li>Jennifer Kaiser, “An Unavoidable Tragedy: The Battle of Verdun and the Dangers of Attrition”</li><li>Alex Poppendorf, “Jacob Riis and the Movement against Childhood Poverty in Five Points New York”</li><li>Kaili Wessels, “The Ultimate International Trail” </li><li>Clarissa Pulley, “Self-Governing Minority Rights and Geographical Determinism” </li><li>Phillip Christie, “On the Ontology of Moral Values and Duties: A Critique of Kant”<b> </b></li></ul><p>For more information, contact APSU associate professor of history and PAT advisor, Dr. Minoa Uffelman at <a href="mailto:uffelmanm@apsu.edu">uffelmanm@apsu.edu</a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p style="text-align:left;">Photo: (Standing, left to right) Minoa Uffelman, advisor, Deanna Carter, Jen Kaiser, Alex Poppendorf, Kaili Wessels, Devon Mindt, (sitting) Amanda Lawson and Larissa Daughtery.</p>History and PhilosophyFri, 20 Mar 2015 17:31:38 +0000harriscj98887 at https://www.apsu.eduNew APSU scholarship honors late Clarksville educator Lynda Connerhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/new-apsu-scholarship-honors-late-clarksville-educator-lynda-conner
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/conner_scroll.jpg" width="410" height="278" alt="conner_scroll.jpg" /></p><p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – When Lynda Wilkerson Conner attended Austin Peay State University in the early 1960s, she had a hard time finding a place to do her student teaching. Clarksville was a small, quiet town in those days, with a population of about 22,000 people and only a handful of public schools scattered around the area. In order to fulfill her student teaching requirement and graduate, Conner had to travel nearly an hour out of town to a rural school in Greenbriar, Tennessee.</p><p>What at first seemed to be an inconvenience turned into a career-defining experience for Conner.</p><p>“A teacher there took her under her wing to help her out, and Lynda never forgot it,” Lawrence Conner, her husband, said. “She loved student teaching. She always took student teachers into her classroom.”</p><p>For nearly 40 years, Conner was one of the first people APSU’s College of Education faculty contacted whenever they needed to place a student in a classroom. In that time, she mentored dozens of future teachers, passing along her motto, “To reach a child’s brain, you must first reach his heart.” Conner passed away in November 2014, but her legacy as a compassionate teacher will continue to thrive in this area, thanks to a new scholarship at APSU.</p><p>Earlier this month, Lawrence Conner returned to Austin Peay to endow the Lynda Conner Education Scholarship for Student Teaching to honor the woman he first met on a blind date at a VFW dance in the early 1960s. She was a Governette with the APSU marching band at the time, and he was a local farmer trying to earn his college degree. Before they went dancing that evening, she told her mother she wouldn’t marry a pig farmer. When she returned home, she informed her mother she’d met the man she was going to marry.</p><p>“I had a special Lynda,” Lawrence Conner said. His voice cracked at the mentioning of his late wife. “She devoted her life to teaching and to being a good wife and mother.”</p><p>The new scholarship will be awarded annually to an education student entering his or her student-teaching year. Family and friends hope the scholarship will grow in the coming years to offer more opportunities for deserving APSU students.</p><p>“I worked with Lynda at Burt when I first started teaching,” Dr. Carlette Hardin, dean of the APSU Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education, said. “She taught across the hall, and I depended on her my first two years to give me good advice and to keep me out of trouble. She was a wonderful mentor. I know that she helped hundreds of future teachers throughout her career and this scholarship will honor her spirit for a long time to come. We are very grateful to the Conner family for thinking of our students.” </p><p>To support this scholarship, contact the University Advancement Office at <a href="mailto:advancement@apsu.edu">advancement@apsu.edu</a> or 931-221-7127, or send a financial donation for the scholarship to University Advancement, Box 4417, Clarksville, TN 37044.</p><p align="center">-30-</p><p>Photo cutline: Dr. Carlette Hardin, dean of the Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education, Lynda Conner (cousin with same name), APSU President Alisa White, Lawrence Conner, Larry Conner and Melynda Conner commemorate the creation of the Lynda Conner Education Scholarship for Student Teaching. (PHOTO by Taylor Slifko/APSU)</p>tbrEducationThu, 19 Mar 2015 15:07:55 +0000boothcw98806 at https://www.apsu.eduVan der Merwe named VP for Advancement, Communication and Strategic Initiatives https://www.apsu.edu/news/van-der-merwe-named-vp-advancement-communication-and-strategic-initiatives
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/20131116-FB-Reunion-Stadium-Demo-6236_copy.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="20131116-FB-Reunion-Stadium-Demo-6236_co" /></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Derek van der Merwe, who has served as Austin Peay State University Athletics Director for the past year and a half, will step down from that post after being named the University’s Vice President for Advancement, Communication and Strategic Initiatives.<br /><br /> That announcement was made Friday morning by University President Alisa White. Van Der Merwe replaces Dr. Brian Johnson, who left the University in Spring 2014 to become president at Tuskegee University.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Mr. van der Merwe has done an exemplary job as Austin Peay’s Athletics Director,” said Dr. White, “and his experience and skills make him eminently qualified to assume his new responsibilities. This fills an important vacancy since Dr. Johnson assumed the presidency of Tuskeegee University.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“In addition to the role in strategic planning, we have updated the position description to allow for optimal coordination of the important work done in Advancement, Marketing and Public Relations and Alumni Relations."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Van der Merwe (pronounced VAN-duh-meer) will assume his new duties April 1 but will continue to oversee the APSU athletics department until a new athletics director is appointed. Current Senior Woman Administrator Cheryl Holt will serve as Interim athletics director throughout the search process. A national search for a new athletics director will start immediately.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“When President White asked me to consider the transition from athletics to campus, I carefully weighed how I could best serve APSU,” van der Merwe said. “I have served in athletics for more than 18 years because of my passion for higher education and a responsibility to train and prepare students for life. This passion will continue as I serve the entire faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters of the University from my new role.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Also, I see and clearly understand the great potential of APSU. President White has a clear vision and direction for where she aspires to lead this University. I believe in this vision and I want to be a partner in helping this University realize that potential.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Van Der Merwe has spent nearly 18 years as an athletics administrator, the last 18 months as APSU’s athletics director after serving the previous 16 years at Central Michigan, his alma mater. During his tenure in higher education, he has effectively managed the challenge of fully integrating athletic departments into the academic mission of the respective universities.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Van der Merwe has managed complex University-wide strategic initiatives during his tenures at Central Michigan and Austin Peay. Most recently, he worked on a comprehensive University branding update for APSU, with Governor Peay at the centerpiece. This change has helped to enhance the overall visibility and impact of the APSU brand. It coincided with the athletics department cementing a five-year agreement with Russell Brands, LLC – parent company of the Russell Athletic® brand – to serve as APSU’s first official uniform and apparel outfitter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">During his tenure at Central Michigan, van der Merwe accomplished campus-wide marketing, development, budget, and strategic initiatives and coordinated the construction and faculty/staff space usage agreements for a new $25 million University Events Center.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">At Austin Peay, he oversaw the raising of a much-needed $20 million new Governors Stadium, a structure that met with rave reviews for much more than its 13 Skybox Suites and club levels, the Coach Bill Dupes Locker room and a brand new turf. Along with it van der Merwe defined a priority seating and sales strategy that witnessed APSU’s largest home football attendance in years.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">His strong leadership and management style, purposefully focused on growth and measurable improvements, has allowed van der Merwe to create an athletics department strategic plan that incorporates strong respect and passion for the academic community and its academic mission. His strategic plan also included launching a new and effective “community-based” marketing strategy that has brought a variety of groups and youth to the APSU campus, helping build a more spirited game-day atmosphere around and for Austin Peay sports. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">That strategy also has expanded outside the boundaries of Clarksville and onto Fort Campbell, where the Governors held the 2014 Spring Football game. The Governors also wore camouflage jerseys, with the 66 nicknames of each Fort Campbell unit on the back, during the 2014 Homecoming Game, which also served as Military Appreciation Day. APSU then auctioned off those jerseys, donated by Russell, with more than $9,000 being presented to the Wounded Warrior Project.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In addition, van der Merwe reorganized and developed an annual giving strategy centered on Governors Club growth and engagement, encouraging more involvement from the younger business leaders in town. He occasionally has moved the monthly Governors Club meetings to more public settings, hoping to better involve potential booster club members.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">With resources a never-ending concern at the mid-major level, van der Merwe made fundraising a focus of his tenure. He reorganized the Athletics Department’s corporate partnership/relationship program and supervised sales growth with new signage adorning almost all Governors and Lady Govs facilities.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“During my tenure as athletics director, I have learned much about the strengths of this University and its faculty, staff and exceptional students,” van der Merwe said. “I have seen the power of a supportive local community and how it maintains a firm bond with Fort Campbell. I have been touched by a faithful group of Governors Club members and corporate partners who always go the extra mile to ensure our programs have the resources they need to build for success.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Before arriving at APSU, van der Merwe served as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer at Central Michigan. During his tenure, the Chippewas enjoyed unprecedented success, which began in 1997 following his playing career as a CMU football player.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">While at the Mount Pleasant, Michigan, campus, van der Merwe’s role expanded to include oversight of facilities, events, summer camps, business operations, communications, the athletic fund, corporate sales and marketing. At various times, he was the primary administrator for football, men’s basketball, softball, hockey, baseball and wrestling.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In his final 10 years, CMU won more than 45 Mid-American Conference Championships, maintained a cumulative department grade-point average of more than 3.0, and achieved an NCAA Graduation Success Rate greater than 75 percent. In 2009, Central Michigan was awarded the Mid-American Conference's inaugural Cartwright Award as the top overall institution exemplifying success in the classroom, in competition and in the community.</span></p>tbrTue, 17 Mar 2015 20:52:57 +0000boothcw98623 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU College of Education continues to shine after 60 years of national accreditation https://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-college-education-continues-shine-after-60-years-national-accreditation
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/college_of_ed.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="college_of_ed.jpg" /></p><p> CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Earlier this academic year, Austin Peay State University’s Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education was reaccredited under the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards, ensuring that APSU’s teacher candidates will be fully prepared to enter classrooms across the United States.</p><p> “For a school like Austin Peay, national accreditation is really important because our students go all over the country,” Dr. Carlette Hardin, dean of the Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education, said. “When they go to another state, it’s important that their state licensure board knows that our students came from a nationally accredited program.”</p><p> This good news arrives as the college celebrates the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary of its first receiving national accreditation. APSU’s College of Education was one of two Tennessee schools to be accredited in 1954. With this reaccreditation, the APSU teacher licensure program has been continually accredited for 60 straight years. Last fall, APSU President Alisa White received a letter from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), commending the College of Education’s high standards.</p><p> “Special congratulations are in order because the Commission cited no areas for improvement relative to any of the standards,” James Cibulka, CAEP president, wrote.</p><p> For Hardin, APSU’s College of Education needs to be among the nation’s best because of the University’s history as a teaching institution. Austin Peay first opened in 1927 as a state normal school to, according to then-Tennessee Commissioner of Education Perry Harned, “teach instructors so thoroughly they will know how to teach.” </p><p> “Teaching preparation was our past, but it will always be a part of Austin Peay’s future, too,” Hardin said. “We passed everything without any problems.”</p><p> The accrediting body has been so impressed with APSU’s College of Education in recent years that it selected the college to create the first institutional report for NCATE’s new “Transformational Initiative” accreditation pathway. APSU was selected because of its adoption of the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Ready2Teach Program. That program prepares students, through the use of technology and research-based teaching methods, for 21<sup>st</sup> century classrooms. </p><p> “We’ve been working with NCATE for the last three years on how that transformational initiative would look nationwide,” Hardin said. “They’ll be using our model.”</p><p> The APSU Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education offers licensure in <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/education/2010/licensureprograms">20 different teaching</a> areas at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/education/2010/currentstudents">Graduate programs</a> advance professional skills in teaching, technology, reading and leadership. In 2009, the College was reorganized to include two departments: the <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/education/department-teaching-and-learning">Department of Teaching and Learning</a> and the <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/education/department-educational-specialties">Department of Educational Specialties</a>. The <a href="http://www.apsu.edu/education/2010/clinicalteaching">Office of Clinical Teaching</a> serves as a liaison between teacher candidates and the area schools where they gain valuable practical experience.</p><p> For more information, contact the college at 931-221-7696.</p>Educational SpecialtiestbrOffice of Clinical TeachingOffice of Teacher CertificationTeaching and LearningEducationTue, 17 Mar 2015 20:35:59 +0000boothcw98609 at https://www.apsu.eduInstallation of President White set for March 23https://www.apsu.edu/news/installation-president-white-set-march-23
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/PresWhite_scroll.jpg" width="410" height="278" alt="PresWhite_scroll.jpg" /></p><p>In the late 17<sup>th</sup> century, a formal, church-like ceremony took place on the young Harvard College campus in Massachusetts, acknowledging the arrival of the school’s newest president. That ritual soon spread through the other colonial colleges in what is now the eastern United States, and Austin Peay State University will continue the revered collegiate tradition when it installs Dr. Alisa White as the institution’s tenth president at 10 a.m., March 23, in the Mabry Concert Hall.</p><p>The ceremony, commemorating the latest transfer of leadership at APSU, will feature a procession of faculty in academic regalia, musical performances, speeches from dignitaries and a presidential address by Dr. White. Individuals wishing to watch the installation can view it online at <a href="http://ovcdigitalnetwork.com/watch/?Live=2269">http://ovcdigitalnetwork.com/watch/?Live=2269</a>.</p><p>The installation ceremony is taking place nine months after the Tennessee Board of Regents named White as APSU’s new president, following the departure of Timothy Hall. White was selected after an extensive nationwide search that resulted in four finalists visiting campus. She arrived at APSU on June 30 to begin her tenure as president.</p><p>White previously served as provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs at the University of Texas at Tyler, where she oversaw approximately 7,500 students, 450 full-time faculty members and a $45 million operating budget. During her time at UT Tyler, White secured $4 million from The University of Texas System to establish the Patriots Applying Technology for Success program. This program was a comprehensive course redesign initiative, involving 10 academic majors and the core curriculum. Courses were redesigned to emphasize high-impact, project based learning practices to increase student learning, engagement and satisfaction.</p><p>White also was instrumental in several high-profile projects at UT Tyler, including the creation and development of the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, the establishment of the Office of International Programs and the establishment of UT Tyler’s Houston Engineering Center.</p><p>The March 23 installation ceremony will pay tribute to many of academia’s ancient customs. The regalia donned by White and the other members of the academic community symbolize the gowns originally worn by teachers and students in 12<sup>th</sup> and 13<sup>th</sup> century European Universities. White will also wear a President’s medallion, a custom adopted by the original colonial colleges in the 17<sup>th</sup> century.</p><p>For more information on this event, please email i<a href="mailto:inauguration2015@apsu.edu">nauguration2015@apsu.edu</a>.</p>tbrTue, 17 Mar 2015 19:27:54 +0000boothcw98602 at https://www.apsu.eduAPSU Center of Excellence For The Creative Arts welcomes Charlotte Pence and Adam Prince for reading eventhttps://www.apsu.edu/news/apsu-center-excellence-creative-arts-welcome-charlotte-pence-and-adam-prince-reading-event
<p><img src="https://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/news/pence_and_prince-2.png" width="388" height="600" alt="pence_and_prince-2.png" /></p><p>CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University welcomes two award-winning authors, as Charlotte Pence and Adam Prince will read excerpts of their works on Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m. at the APSU Honors Common. The event is free and open to the public.</p><p>Pence is the author of two award-winning poetry chapbooks and the editor of “The Poetics of American Song Lyrics,” a collection of academic essays that regards songs as literature and identifies intersections between poems and songs. Her first full-length collection of poems, “Many Small Fires” was released in February 2015. She is married to Prince and is an assistant professor of English and creative writing at Eastern Illinois University.</p><p>Prince’s fiction has appeared in The Missouri Review, The Southern Review and Narrative Magazine, among others. His first book, “The Beautiful Wishes of Ugly Men” is available from Black Lawrence Press. He is currently at work on a novel about identity and surveillance that takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia.</p><p>For more information, contact the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at 931-221-7876. Pence can be reached at <a href="http://www.charlottepence.com" title="www.charlottepence.com">www.charlottepence.com</a>, while more information on Prince can be found at <a href="http://www.adamprinceauthor.com" title="www.adamprinceauthor.com">www.adamprinceauthor.com</a>.</p>Center of Excellence for Creative Arts Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:16:35 +0000harriscj98599 at https://www.apsu.edu